Creative attitude to conflicts and the main methods of their resolution

Lecture



In the most general form, any conflict is a fundamental contradiction between the existing and the optimal, between reality and the ideal, reflected on the psychological level. At the same time, the indicator of imperfections and structural deformations of multi-level relations are negative emotions and experiences.
At the existential and social levels, conflict manifests itself as the first stage of the temporal structure of the creative act, which is the definition of the problem and its resolution . In this regard, they talk about the constructive function of the conflict and consider it as the beginning, impetus, impetus to the development and improvement of systems of any level of complexity. The developing potential of a conflict consists in clarifying and analyzing one's own shortcomings and failures, mistakes and imperfections of a partner, realizing the objective contradictions of the current situation, and also finding ways to eliminate them. Any conflict is a problem that, with the help of creative will, can be transformed into a new opportunity, into a source of deepening knowledge about oneself, others and the external environment, transformed into the energy of their improvement and development.
Creative attitude to the conflict involves considering it as a fascinating problem, a mystery that develops a creative task that requires its own effective and beautiful resolution. Taking conflict as a challenge, a source of inner growth, anticipating the highest pleasure from its resolution and self-empowerment, the creative person not only views him as something inevitable and proper, but she herself consciously seeks and resolves the deep contradictions of reality, thereby bringing herself and others closer ideal.
A creative approach to a conflict always implies a desire to reveal the undisclosed possibilities of all the structural components of a conflict situation, to learn from it a lesson, benefit, advantage, ability to draw conclusions in order to become more perfect, deeper and stronger.
Holistic, creative approach to the conflict involves the management of its activity, the conscious direction of it in different meaningful course. According to the opinion of I. M. Koryak and F. M. Borodkin (1983), at the very beginning of a conflict, it is necessary to single out those aspects of the situation that are subject to our influence, as well as those that can be allowed to “mature” on their own. At the same time, it is necessary to closely monitor the development of the conflict and determine when to wait, when to prepare the necessary events, and when to act decisively [1].
The creative attitude to the conflict, to the opponent and to oneself is multi-layered, hierarchical in nature and includes axiological, cognitive, emotional and behavioral components that are realized with the help of appropriate pairs of mechanisms of creativity.
The most essential and fundamental mechanism of creative resolution of a conflict is idealization, which consists in seeing, recognizing and emphasizing the essential merit of an opponent, in awakening and developing its ideal-I. This mechanism involves focusing on the most common, unifying values ​​and goals, on the hidden, developing capabilities of the conflict itself, on its holistic perception and on the ideal plan for its resolution.
Idealization always presupposes the solution of conflict by synthesis, creation, unification, use of the system quality of the whole. It is on the constructive, developing principle of conflict resolution that N.K. Roerich. He believed that condemnation, criticism, rudeness, fussy actions, compromises and concessions would never lead to victory. The only way to it is creative, enriching efforts, “bringing light”, which reduces the darkness [4].
The originality and ideality of creative solutions to the conflict consists in going beyond the simple compromise, in releasing from the bundle "or-or" and in transition to a new, higher dimension, in opening new opportunities that "do not divide, but increase the cake."
A holistic approach to the problem involves the creation of its holistic, multidimensional model, the transition to the analysis of the over - and subsystems of opponents, the definition of their past and future.
A more particular mechanism of idealization is the anticipation, which, in particular, manifests itself in the form of reception - the creation of a fait accompli. According to T. Kotarbinsky (1975), protective and preventive actions require less cost than constructive [2]. To obtain the desired state of things, with the least possible use of resources, it is necessary beforehand, when it is relatively easy, to take actions and create conditions that would automatically lead at a certain moment to the necessary state of things.
Problematization consists in revealing, realizing and recognizing the very fact of the existence of a conflict, in understanding the true state of things, in accepting a situation as it really is. At the same time, the conflict is defined in the form of " our common problem" , in which the opponent becomes not the opponent, but the conflict itself, which requires coordinated efforts to eliminate it. At the same time, problematisation consists in defining the key contradiction underlying the conflict, in emphasizing the differences and uniqueness of the subjects of interaction, in revealing the core, essence, sting of the conflict, in determining the deep, often hidden, conflicting pair of motives.
At the same time, the very awareness and definition of the “common problem” goes through a series of stages. At the first stage , the very fact of the existence of a problem, conflict situation is recognized, the indicators of which are negative emotions, feelings of tension and discomfort. At the second stage , the opposite goals and positions of opponents are realized and formulated. And only in the third stage , the true, deep interests of the parties to the conflict are determined, its essence and key contradiction are revealed, which creates new opportunities and facilitates finding beautiful, and simple solutions.
Often it is the emphasis on the distinctiveness and differences of the opponents that serves as the basis and effective technique for solving the conflict. So an example of the separation in time and space of two contradictory functions is the "principle of dividing the cake" - one cuts, and the other chooses. Another example of breeding conflicting trends is the very choice of constructive tactics of behavior in a conflict situation - to be soft in dealing with people and tough in relation to the problem.
Decentration is understood as the accounting and generation of various points of view on conflict. At the same time, it represents the expansion of approaches to conflict, the shaking of standard expectations, patterns and stereotypes, the production of all sorts of alternatives, original ideas and mutually beneficial solutions for its solution. At the same time, decentration is manifested as the inversion of its strategy and line of conduct in a conflict, in its refusal to solve it through systematic efforts, the transformation of “harm in favor” and the use of negative factors of the situation energy for their own purposes.
Simplification manifests itself as the ultimate simplification and clarification of the conflict, as its mapping, formalization and algorithmization. The very simplification of the conflict, its presentation in the form of a scheme, a symbol, a metaphor, a parable, an anecdote makes it possible to clearly see its hidden essence, leading to the emergence of simple and beautiful ideas of its resolution.
An effective way to prevent and smooth conflicts is the implementation of all sorts of symbolic gestures and rituals: handshakes, gifts, face-to-face conversations, friendly meals. All the most acute conflict relations require their formalization, regulation and reduction to rituals, which significantly reduces their emotional intensity, smoothes out tension. A good example of the usefulness and productivity of this technique is the traditional practice of organizing court sessions and parliamentary debates.
Identification   consists in getting into the inner world of the opponent, in experiencing his unique circumstances, understanding his attitude to his opponent, to himself and to the actual conflict. This mechanism allows to clarify the essential desires, motives and aspirations of the opponent, to see himself with his eyes. According to R. Fisher and U. Yuri (1981), it is the art to see the situation as it appears to the other side, is one of the most important abilities that provide a successful solution to interpersonal problems and conflicts [5].
Meditation is understood as sensual exclusion from conflict, deliverance from one’s subjectivity and egocentric emotions, lowering the significance of a conflict, its anihilation and withdrawal from it. Often, to successfully resolve a conflict, you just need to distract yourself, rise above yourself and the conflict situation, see new higher opportunities, change yourself and change your attitude towards it.
Self-actualization as a mechanism and a generalized method of resolving conflicts consists in an open and honest presentation of its position, in the full and sincere expression of its feelings of experiences. At the same time, it is recognition of one’s right to be oneself, respect for one’s position, firmly upholding it, protection of one’s rights without infringing the rights of another.
Personification as a mechanism for resolving conflicts is to provide the opponent with the right to free activity, to create conditions for the open expression of his emotions and true desires, to awaken his responsibility for a productive resolution of the conflict
The implementation of this mechanism is manifested in the conscious stimulation of the initiative activity of the opponent, in the formation of his interest in the successful resolution of the conflict. At the same time, personification consists in creating an external environment that contributes to resolving a conflict, and using energy, activity, opponent's capabilities and circumstances for his own purposes.

Algorithm and time structure of conflict resolution.
Creative attitude to the conflict involves taking into account the nature, stage of development, qualitative specificity and uniqueness of each specific conflict and, at the same time, the consistent implementation of a generalized and invariant algorithm that includes the following steps:
I. Clarification and definition of the problem.
1. Providing your opponent the opportunity to express their position, emotions and desires.
2. Free and sincere expression of their position.
3. Clarification of the point of view of the opponent to the conflict: what, in his opinion, mine and his actions underlie the conflict.
4. Expressing your point of view on the conflict: what his and my actions led to the conflict.
5. A brief definition of the nature of the conflict as "our common problem."
Ii. Analysis of the problem and identification of the causes of the conflict.
1. Finding out what my opponent thinks about my goals and causes of conflict.
2. Expressing your opinion about his goals and the causes of the conflict.
3. Determination of his (his) declared positions, goals.
4. Determination of values, norms, goals and orientations of those groups and subsystems that we represent.
5. Determination of the entire spectrum and priorities of its (their) deep, true interests and motives.
6. The definition of all that we converge and diverge.
7. Definition of the essence, the key contradiction of the conflict.
Iii. Conflict resolution.
1. The formulation of the position of the opponent and the identification of conditions under which the position would be fair.
2. Granting your opponent the right to formulate your own position and determine the conditions under which it could be feasible.
3. Offer your own ways out of the conflict:
a) what would be your actions to resolve the conflict;
b) whatever opponent’s actions resolve the conflict;
c) what possible consequences follow from these actions;
d) what benefits can bring your actions to the opponent;
e) what are the external conditions for resolving a conflict.
4. Listening to the opponent's proposals regarding his own and your actions, their consequences, benefits, as well as the conditions for resolving the conflict.
5. The joint generation of non-standard, original, future-oriented ideas that expand the range of possibilities, bring mutual benefits and open up qualitatively new solutions that “increase the cake."
Iv. Evaluation, selection and decision-making based on objective principles, higher common values, as well as on the basis of criteria for a creative product.
V. Implementation of a joint decision.
Strategies, styles and techniques for creative conflict resolution. Creative attitude to the conflict includes the flexible application of various strategies, styles and methods of its resolution, depending on its objective nature and subjective significance, degree of development, as well as on the individual characteristics of opponents. At the same time, private receptions are concrete manifestations of more general techniques and mechanisms for creatively resolving real, qualitatively unique conflict situations.
A creative conflict resolution strategy is implemented using styles such as compromise and cooperation, which are constituted on the basis of the following system of techniques [2, 3].
1. Creating an ideal plan of ideal conditions for resolving the conflict and transferring them to the actual, real situation.
2. Being in the opponent of positive, useful qualities, focusing on them, their use and development.
3. Creating conditions that actualize the necessary constructive qualities and actions of the opponent. If you can not change your opponent, change his conditions.
4. The resolution of an insoluble conflict at the supersystem level. Combining private conflicting positions by creating a common, super-system unifying goal. Conflict resolution through the involvement of intermediaries, using the influence of the reference group, finding support in higher values ​​and objective criteria.
5. Separation of opponents and their conflict actions in space and time.
6. The use of various mental composed opponent, the preliminary creation of "useful", conducive to the resolution of conflict states.
7. The use of the leg-to-door slit technique is the implementation of actions unacceptable for the opponent in a small measure and for a short time.
8. Filling the old, familiar to the opponent forms necessary and new content.
9. Application of the “harm in favor” technique - to provide an opponent with the opportunity to openly display his negative energy, strengthen it and direct it towards breaking down barriers and causes of conflict.
10. Neutralization of one harmful factor by another: to push two opponents together; neutralization of one lack of an opponent by another; consideration of their actual negative experiences in terms of possible or real more acute suffering.
11. Decomposition and ranking of the spectrum of interests: to give in in what is not significant for you, but it is important for the opponent, to insist on what is more important for you than for the opponent.
12. Taking up the position of an opponent, getting used to his inner world and circumstances.
13. Application of the technique of "visualization" - to vividly present the conflict on the mental screen, to observe the behavior of the opponent and himself, to amend, manage, act as a director.
14. Using the "principle of non-interference" - show your opponent the benefits of an ideal relationship and give him the right to take the initiative and independently resolve the conflict.
15. Use of all opportunities and energy of circumstances. "Let the wind blow from behind you and the sun shine" (A. Macedonian).
This system of techniques is aimed at the use and realization of those new and unique opportunities that open up to the subjects of the dialogue numerous and inevitable conflicts that are naturally interwoven into the living fabric of a pulsating reality.
Any conflict is a challenge that throws an objective reality to the individual, testing, risking, calling to improve oneself, others and the surrounding circumstances, an impulse to their advancement and approaching the ideal.

LITERATURE:
1. Borodkin FM, Koryak N.M. Attention: conflict. - Novosibirsk: Science, 1989. - 190 p.
2. Kotarbinsky T. Treatise on good work. - M.: Economics, 1975. - 271 p.
3. Cornelius S., Faire S. Everyone can win. How to resolve conflicts. - M .: Stringer, 1992. - 216s.
4. Roerich N.K. Action // Peace through culture. Yearbook - M .: Council. writer, 1990. - ЗЗ4 с. - P.34-36.
5. Fisher, R., Urey U. Way to an agreement, or negotiations without defeat. -M .: Science, 1992. -158 p.


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Psychology of creativity and genius

Terms: Psychology of creativity and genius